TODAY'S DATE

Did you notice what today is? Sadly, I'll bet most of you didn't. I know my husband knows. He might not have remembered it right away, but now that I bring it up....he knows the importance of the day.

You are looking at the date, April 25. You are wondering, "Is it an anniversary for something?" You are probably debating googling the date, just to see the importance in history. You will not find it....I don't think. I need to Google it and check, I guess.

No today is VERY important. Today is exactly 8 months until Christmas. Today is only 7 months before I decorate my house for Christmas.

Most of you think that I have flipped my lid. You think I'm out of groovy ideas to write about. You think I'm just filling this blog with a bunch of bull-pucky. I assure you, I'm not.

You can contact my hubby. He will tell you. I remind him OFTEN, throughout the year, how much longer until Christmas. Just think, it's been 4 months since Christmas. We are one third of the way there. ISN'T THAT EXCITING?

I know you think it's too soon. Whatever. Feel free to keep your opinions to "yerself" on this. My love of Christmas is so great that I celebrate AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. One month is simply NOT ENOUGH time for the holiday season.

So, here is a quick breakdown of the remainder of time before Christmas.

May - end of school (kinder graduation, Field Days, teacher appreciation, end of year parties),

June - 2 birthdays, Father's Day, vacation alone with my boy, swimming lessons, piano recitals

July - Independence Day, barbeques, swimming, going to the park

August - the start of school, PTO board meetings, the start of homework, my 16th wedding anniversary (hubba hubba)

September - the start of fall, the loss of 100+ degrees temp...and only maintaining 100 degrees temp

October - THE STATE FAIR OF THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS (a very big deal here), Halloween, temps in the 90s...finishing up water aerobics

November - Thanksgiving (which will take me a few weeks to plan the meal and be totally anal about who will fix what and which new item will be included on the menu)

December - Birthday, Christmas, music, homemade candies, cakes, goodies, gifts

DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN? We don't have much time. So, I ask you...what have you done to prepare for the holidays? I think I'll go work on my Christmas card list.

MY LOVE....MY SON

By the time you read this, tomorrow will be today. SO, I'm typing this as if it is today (tomorrow.) Get it?

Today (April 21) my third born is 4 years old. How can that be?

I can remember, before I had children, when adults would talk of time flying faster and faster. I would hear the words of grandparents, "Enjoy them while they are young; those moments go by so fast."

Truer words have never been spoken. I am heartsick that my third child is already 4 years old ~ a mere 9 years from being a teenager~ a short 12 years from having his driver's license ~ a brief 14 years before he may leave home....if I let him.

I've been a mother for 8 years. In that amount of time, he will be a "tween." (whatever that means)

My little boy was planned when my DH got his new job and we knew we would be a bit more financially able to care for another human. As with the other two, there was really no turning back once the decision was made. It seems that I have been blessed with fertility. And by that I mean that friends joke about dh brushing up against me and I end up preggers.

ANYWAY, we thought of another baby, and within a few weeks, we knew number 3 was on the way. Ultrasound revealed another boy. Though some family and friends might have felt brief disappointment on our behalf, my hubby and I were thrilled to our fingertips. ANOTHER BOY! He would be named after his great-grandfather.

His delivery was the easiest I had had up to that point. We induced in order to be sure that DH was there for his arrival. I had drugs....I'm not ashamed. Shoot....I'd do them again now if they only allowed some sort of home set-up for an epidural :)

**This is where the men who read might want to stop. The women will be OK. This is personal and somewhat graphic so if you are weak...GO AWAY!

I had my water broken at 9-something. I was given the choice of an epi at 3 cm. The drug-dude would be in surgery for awhile and I knew that by the time he got back, I would no longer be friendly. SO, we decided to go ahead. The only bad thing is that it made me sick...sick...sick. (I stopped counting my puking sessions at 6.)

When it came time to push, I was told to push for a count of 10. Being an old pro...and not feeling a darn thing, I was happy to oblige. The nurse told the doc that I would be ready shortly. I was told to push for another count of 10...which sounded something like this:

"ONE....TWO....THREE....*beep.."DOCTOR J!!!" TEN! STOP PUSHING!"

While waiting, I felt the pressure of a little one coming into the world...through no pushing of mine...he was just ooching out. (Now I know that "ooching" might not be a real word, but please....it fits.)

The doctor came in and said, "Do not laugh, cough or sneeze." (I added to myself...."or vomit. Cause if I do, this boy will fly across the room.")

The room jumped into overdrive. Things flew around. The doc wheeled up on her stool and said, "Give me a little push....give me a little push. You just had a baby." With that, she plopped my 8 pound 8 ounce writhing lump of goop on my belly.

I was immediately concerned when I noticed that his right ear wasn't formed. I was told to not worry...yet. They wanted to clean him up and check him out. I saw the doctor push around on his skull. My precious boy.....my baby....had something wrong with him.

Minutes later, he was taken to ultrasound. It seems that when the outer ear forms, that the gall bladder and kidneys grow. The big concern was not his little, malformed ear...it was the problem that was more than likely inside.

Our hearts dropped. After an easy pregnancy and a very fast and easy delivery, my baby was now a special case that had to be checked out.

I felt guilty. I had had a bad cold when I was about 4 months pregnant. I had taken quite a bit of cough medicine....all given to me by my doctor, but still...what had I done to my child? We found out later that nobody knows what causes it.

We were so thankful when we found out that his insides were all what and where they should be. But the matter of his ear....what was wrong with it, anyway? Suddenly my few appointments became more as we were dealing with a child who most likely had hearing loss.

Hearing tests showed that his good ear was 100% normal. We were thankful for that....but still had no idea how to refer to his ear. We were referred to an ENT. We were so scared. We have never really had to go to specialists before. Suddenly, we needed an ENT....we had to get out of our comfort zone...get away from the few doctors we knew. The Lord, I KNOW, heard our hearts' cries and our minds' fears. Our ENT, referred to us by our pediatrician, just happened to be one of my best friends from high school - someone I could cry in front of; someone who could hug me; someone I could get upset with and still find the answers and the comfort that I needed. THANK YOU, GOD!

It took us awhile to remember, and start to learn about, microtia atresia. Basically, it means that my son has a "little ear" (microtia) with no ear canal (atresia). The hardest part for us is what he will have to go through within the next few years. He will go through about 4 surgeries in which his ear will be rebuilt and a canal will be drilled. His speech and language are developing as they should. The only issue he has is that he can't really hear "in stereo." If you walk up behind him (or from the side where he can't see you) and speak to him, he has to look for the sound. He doesn't locate it as quickly and efficiently as others.

Here is a site that tells more about it... http://www.pde.com/~kazemir/

Shortly after we found out what we were dealing with, we took him in for an ABR. (Now don't ask me what that stands for...I don't remember...LOL...as I say that, my hubby, and my ENT's wife are yelling at the screen, hoping I'll hear that it means.....?????) Anyway, it's the test where the little wires are stuck to his noggin with glue-type goop. He slept in my arms while the computer did its thing. After about 40 minutes, the audiologist said, "I think I have enough." We took in a big breath as she stated, "He DOES have hearing in that ear." THANK YOU, GOD! (Do you see how we keep getting blessed in this time of uncertainty?)

We have learned so much since his birth. We have grown a lot, too. God really dealt with us on our issues of guilt and personal pity. He used our ENT, who had wisdom in dealing with me...a near hysterical mother. The ENT said, "This is not a life-long, nor is it a life-threatening disability. You deal with it for a few years. You fix it. You go on." WOW!!! Isn't that something?

Four years have gone by. Nobody really notices his ear. What they do notice are his dimples. They notice his curly hair and his long eyelashes. I hate to say this about a boy, but he is pretty. He is one of the prettiest children I know. He is lovable and huggable. I love my boy....the cute way he asks for "chocking milk;" the way he loves to eat his "tarTARts" in the morning; the way he runs to the bathroom every time he hears water running, just to take a "baff" or a "showla."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE MAN!

I thank God for you. You have taught me so much. I pray many blessings on you as you go out each day. I pray protection over you. I pray for healing for you...in general health and in your hearing. I pray that I continue to learn to be the mom that God wants me to be for you. I pray for God's hand on you as you grow and live as a child of God. I pray all these things in my mighty Saviour's name!

SO MANY THINGS.....

I am not one to be speechless....really. I might not have something important to say, but I will talk anyway. If something needs to be said, I can be counted on to say it. If something doesn't need to be said, you can certainly bet that I will be the one to say it. I don't look to be ugly.....just honest....BRUTALLY honest.

Anyway, as I was sitting here about to blog, I honestly couldn't think of anything. HOW SAD IS THAT? I read blogs in which people talk about what happened during the day. I love peeking into their lives. (Makes me feel a bit more normal....somewhat.) But for me to do that...I don't know. I personally don't find satisfaction in my writing to do that. Maybe that's why I blog only once a week....but check daily my friends.....you can find some of them to your right.

I almost turned off the computer. But before I do, I think I'll just talk about what I might talk about in the future. I also need to address just a few things. (I'm sorry for those who are reading and looking for a laugh....I'm not full of many tonight, but my future topics should be interesting to some.)

First off, on a very serious note...I have a mommy friend who just lost her 4 year old daughter. The little girl had health problems, but that does not help the pain that my friend is in. My heart hurts for her. Please remember this family...and many others who have just lost children, siblings and parents to the madness that is this world.

So one thing I might type about is end times. I had a cyber-friend comment on the shootings in Virginia. She said, "I don't know what this world is coming to." Well....I had just found out about my aforementioned friend...I didn't have the fight in me to tell her what the world is coming to. But I will :D

OK.....that being said, I'll just post a few goings on in my life and a few ideas for future blogs....I shan't be long.

I got a call from a DEAR DEAR friend today. He and his wife are finally trying to get preggers. I LOVE IT! I wish them well and quick conception! He called and said that she ovulated and he went through the proper reaction of this news....now we wait. Because of this....I have 8 things to write about...the pregnancy (more specifically finding out and telling of) each of my 4 pregnancies and each of my 4 deliveries.

You see, (this is for you men) mothers LOVE to hear pregnancy and birthing stories. Mothers LOVE to tell their own adventures even more. COOL, HUH? EIGHT MORE STORIES!

I love to write...it's a little known fact that I want to be published.... hmmmmm...we'll see.

Oh, something else exciting that happened today. I bought new tennis shoes. They were on sale for $39.99 from $50. Just thought I would share.

BUT, the BIG news of the day is this. My 3 year old went, BY HIMSELF, and pooped in the potty. This is only the 2nd or 3rd time he has done this. Anyone who has potty trained a boy knows what a big deal this is. You get tired, you know? I mean, you finally get them to tell you when they need to tee-tee. They come tearing through the room squealing "TEE TEEEEEEE." You react as if you just saw a snake. You tear after the child, rip down the britches and make sure that his aim is accurate. You are SO glad that you no longer wash 5-9 pairs of wet undies. HOWEVER, muddy undies are MUCH WORSE! Really....if you haven't done it, just imagine, ok? I mean, dude....MUD? RAIN? What do you choose?

So anyway, the first time he did it he had gone in to tee tee. We are encouraging him to go alone, so I turned on the light and left him to undress (yes, undress....he has to have his britches OFF for some reason.) After awhile (a long while...too long for a quick whiz) I go to check. He is leaning on the back of the toilet looking into the bowl. (I know...the mental picture is a bit much, but it is a very important part of this story.) I was gearing up to scold him for playing in the potty when he looked at me, pointed into the bowl and said, "Would you look at that?"

The pride I felt...and the pride he felt was a bit much, I guess, considering that we soon celebrated a turd....a real turd....not some accidental escapee. We squealed and jumped up and down and soon got candy as a reward. I said, "Did you do that?" DUH, but still, moms do this. He said, "Yesssss."

Well, tonight, he did it again. We may have finally broken the muddy pants pattern.

So I suppose I have reached a new level...I have blogged (again) about poop. Let's just hope my future blogs aren't about the same type of s***....you really thought I would say it, huh?

Later!

MORE ABOUT ME

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? I was named after the siren on the Rhine River in Germany (you think I'm joking, huh?)

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I really couldn't tell ya.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Not particularly

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? right now it's pastrami

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 4 boys ages 7, 6, 4 and 1

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would be now, but back in the day....nope

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Ya think? ;)

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yeppers

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? NO! Too many uncontrolled variables....however, I have gone rappelling many times and I have sky....would it be "dove" or "dived?" I mean, the past tense of "dive" is "dove," but it doesn't really sound right to say that I "skydove." Hmmmm...OK...I have jumped out of a plane (while it was flying.)

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Fruity Pebbles, Vanilla Almond Granola, and Toasted Honey Crunch

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? who does?

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? physically? I think I am for a girl. Mentally? Well, I guess I kind of hafta be, considering my life.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? From Marble Slab: Sweet Cream with raspberries and chocolate chips in a chocolate dipped waffle cone. From the store: Blue Bell Chocolate Chip

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their ankles. (Fat ankles are both annoying and very grotesque.) Now...as you go to inspect your own ankles, let me tell you what I look for....I look for the gradual down-sizing of the leg as it tapers into a nice, slender ankle. I'm not looking for a tree stump with a foot on the end.

15. RED OR PINK? RED!

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Oh...I could go on and on....probably procrastination, shyness and a bit of insecurity. (STOP LAUGHING!)

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My friend Miss K in New Mexico

18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Ummmm...aren't you assuming too much?

19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? a piece of lemon cake at a baby shower

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? my 4 year-old snoring

21. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? red and probably broken or stubby with the paper torn off

22. FAVORITE SMELLS? (ask me my least favorite smells and I refer to my cardinal rule to NOT smell something) BUT, I do have faves....Drakkar on my man, (mixed with Big Red Gum and beer....but that goes WAY back to my party days.....and those of you who know me...well, you know what a party-er I was. LOL!!!) coffee, Baby Magic baby lotion

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? my dad

24. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? she's a peach! (I stole your idea, Mommy Spice!)

25. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? college and pro football and basketball. GO MAVS!!!!

26. HAIR COLOR? blonde

27. EYE COLOR? hazel

28. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? I have for the last 23 years

29. FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican Food with a chocolate chaser

30. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy...as long as it's not mushy....I really don't like when people kiss and all that. BLECH! GET A ROOM!

31. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Illusionist, right after Facing the Giants...both very good flicks.

32. WHAT COLOR SHIRT/BLOUSE ARE YOU WEARING? one of DH's undershirts. (it's bedtime and that's what I sleep in)

33. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter

34. HUGS OR KISSES? Who's offering?I like both....especially the kind wrapped in foil with a Hershey's tag stickin' out the top :D

35. FAVORITE DESSERT? Cheesecake

36. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Kingdom Come (and several others that are "pick-up-every-now-and-then-read-a-chapter-at-a-time" books)

37. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? my mouse

38. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? ER

39. FAVORITE SOUNDS? rain, wind, my children laughing, my baby singing, classical music, worship music

40. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? must you ask? BEATLES!!!

41. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Puerto Vallarte, Mexico...."It's this whole other country." (OK...if you've never seen Forrest Gump, that means absolutely nothing to you.)

42. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Yes, I do....I can play the piano. I can play the flute. I can sing. And I'm a DARN GOOD FRIEND!

Ressurection Sunday

We color eggs. We hide, then hunt, the eggs. We eat chocolate bunnies (ears first, of course.) We buy new clothes.

We bake cookies and enjoy all bunny, egg, and chick treats. And most importantly, we remember the true meaning of the day.

This Sunday is the most important Sunday to my family.

My children are just starting to learn what this season means. We talk about it every year (and even throughout the year.) What is so hard is getting them to really KNOW and UNDERSTAND and BELIEVE that all the things Jesus did for the world He did for me, for my children, for YOU!

As I grow, I am hit with this reality more and more. I grew up believing, but it's only in my older years that I'm understanding the sacrifice; the things that Jesus went through for YOU!

Isaiah refers to stripes on His back.....39 stripes, to be exact. These stripes were for healing. Healing is just one of the many things that I am secure in...all because Jesus died on the cross for me and YOU!

Please remember the true "REASON FOR THE SEASON!"

Spiritual truth #1 - No one is good. All are sinners

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God -Romans 3:23

Spiritual Truth #2 - The payment for sin is death. If you sin, you have been sentenced to the death penalty, and an eternity away from God.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. -Romans 6:23

Spiritual truth #3 - Jesus paid the death penalty for us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. -John 3:16-17

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -John 14:6

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. -John 10:10

Spiritual truth #4 - To accept the free gift of salvation, you must accept Jesus as your Lord and saviour.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. -2 Corinthians5:17

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. -Romans 10:9-11

The above scripture says you need to do three things:

Confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth

Believe in your heart

Don't be ashamed

If you want to be saved and born again, and you are ready to become a new creature in Christ, then pray the following prayer. You can do this right now...right where you are. God will hear you:

Dear Lord, Thank You so much for sending Your Son to pay for my sins, by dying in my place. I accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and I believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead. Thank You for Your free gift of salvation, I gladly accept it. Amen~

If you did this, please let me know in the comment section. I will pray for you.

God bless you as you prepare for Resurrection Sunday.

THE COUCH

What you are about to read is absolutely true. It is unbelievable in that it should not happen....EVER. Not to my worst enemy....well, maybe my worst, but not to my friends anyway. In fact, when I have told people to their face, they have a whole "sucks to be you" look. When I tell the the result, they show a bit of relief. Relief and doubt that it turned out as well as it did.

So we bought this couch, see. OK...I really need to back up. The story is MUCH better when you realize WHY we got the couch in the first place.

Do you remember the rota virus episode that we enjoyed a few weeks ago? Remember? A whole lot of puke and poop? Well, the bodily fluids didn't stay contained like we would want. There were many times when it just oozed or flew to other locations of the room.

One such location was our couch. The poor baby, limp with fever and lack of nutrition, lay on the couch, on a blanket, watching Blue's Clues....anything to give that sweet baby some joy. As I walked past, I smelled the evidence of another blow-out. I picked him up and discovered that he had been lying in it. (guilt)

We cleaned the furniture and the child and put him to bed. All was well until 2 days later. The baby, seemingly much better, decided to show me that, in fact, he was NOT better as he puked once, twice, THREE TIMES on the previously pooped on cushion. So again, soap and water hit both child and cushion.

Baby feeling better, my attention turned to the cushion. Soap and water didn't touch the stench...the smell that had a life of its own. If you ever watched Jerry Seinfeld...think of the BBO in his car. THAT is what we were dealing with. It was BAD! SO....talking to friends and reading hints I went to tackle this beast, this unearthly smell; a smell SO LARGE that only a baby could bring it on.

I used soap and water. I used a vinegar solution. I used baking soda. I used so much febreeze that I couldn't even smell it out of the bottle anymore. As my number 1 rule is to not smell anything to test for the blech factor, I would use my boys. Each sniff resulted in "EWWWWW GROSS!!!!"

I determined to make the best of it. My hubby, who had been gone throughout the entire episode, came home on a Tuesday. I told him of my problem. "It's nasty!" I told him this. It is a little known fact that my DH's sniffer just doesn't work normally....in fact, the anti-smelling rule does not apply to him because...well, his schnoz is jacked when it comes to the duty beyond holding sunglasses up.

Well, on Wednesday night, he happened to be sitting in the exact spot that saw so much action. After about 10 minutes, he jumped up, yelled, "THIS SUCKS!" and left to buy me a couch. I never got something so easily. Shoot....there are a lot of things I could have kids puke on...if only I had known.

BUT I digress!

He bought the new couch and it was to be delivered Friday week. We were so excited. Despite the fact that we had to buy a steam cleaner to rid the couch of whatever odor we could...regardless of the fact that our new van is in need of a new transmission...and forgetting the fact that we have to eat...we were VERY thrilled to have a brand new....and might I add, GORGEOUS couch.

So the thing gets delivered. It JUST fit. And when I mean JUST fit....if any dimension of our living room (except height) were just an inch shorter...well, it wouldn't work.

We are so proud. It is gorgeous! I haven't had any furniture quite that nice. Having 4 boys, we immediately went into CLDM..."couch lock-down mode."

NO FOOD!

NO DRINK!
NO PETS!

NO SHOES!

NO GUM!

NO NOSE-PICKING! (that includes any adults)

NO....you get the picture

That first night saw a family movie night in which we all ate pizza....on the floor!

The boys were so excited and kept reminding us of the rules....GOOD JOB, BOYS!

Saturday, we awaken to the smell of new furniture. We smile and go sit - our bare legs on the cream colored micro-fiber. The smell of the faux-leather intoxicating as we lean the seat back and bask in the plush embrace of our real-life adult purchase.

Pretending we have money, we decided to go shopping and to take our blue bonnet pictures. As we are about to leave, it happens.

"MOM! LOOK AT THE BABY!"

THIS is not something you want to hear...especially coming from the proximity of the new furniture that you hold ALMOST as dear as your children.

A cream colored cushion is a tempting canvas for a black marker toting toddler. (Try saying THAT 3-times fast.)

You don't believe me, dear reader. I went into a dreamlike state as I looked down at my beautiful new couch...the cream colored couch with black lines on it...at least a dozen lines and scribbles...a masterpiece...a work of art.

I can talk about this calmly because my baby is not even 2. I could not beat him the way I could have had it been my 4 year old, my 6 year old, or my 7 year old. I truly thank God it was my baby that did this.

Ivory dish soap, a warm wet cloth and elbow grease....well, I have a new couch again. It came out! It really did. Thank goodness. I thought I was going to have to puke on it to get another new one.